Matt,
Hold on my friend. Slow down and take a deep breath and let me explain 3 points.
1. I don't buy into ANY top 10 at the High School level because it's just incredibly difficult to know exactly what's going on state wide. That includes a USA Today Top 10 or VA top 10 or Texas top 10. There's no way to tell. I believe 8 out of the top 10 in Class 1A through 6A should be there. We talk about what's not correct, but most of it is legit, but......
2. Example. Poquoson in 2A. Number 5 Matt? Really? Come on man. A final four team that took RE Lee to overtime on the road with a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but a missed field goal. That game at RE Lee and Lee takes Appo to the wire the next week. Now, of all those top 4 schools in Appo, Lee, Union and Poquoson and include E. Rock and Graham. Poquoson returns far more and East Rock is right up there. There is no way 4 other teams in the state of VA in AA should be ranked higher, nor is there 4 AA teams better.
3. Example... Glenvar recently handled Graham in a scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Go to the SW Virginia website and read it. Graham fans are worried. Graham is going to be ranked ahead of Glenvar in the AA poll. Sure, only a scrimmage I know, but read the words of the Graham fans, They got handled on both sides of the ball. That happened. That's a fact. It happened less than 12 days ago this year.
Finally Matt, nobody stated (at least I didn't) that you and your staff doesn't work hard. But, because you work hard doesn't explain all errors. Equally important, you do get it right most of the time, but it's still a High School Poll nd I don't buy into them. As for having the top 5 teams in the state winning the title. Matt, that's easy. Who in VA can't tell you that RH, Essex, Galax, or Chilhowie isn't going to win it at 1A? The odds are what, about 99 percent. I think you guys do a great job and again, get it right far, far more than getting it wrong, but that doesn't mean you are without critique. Matt, if you do a poll, you know there is going to be critique. That's human nature. with that written, there is also praise. At least, I'm praising you. You guys do a solid job. You asked me a question so I will ask you, how do you justify Poquoson at 5 and Graham ahead of Glenvar? Matt, even from near your neck of the woods, Goochland ranked that low with what they return? I just don't see it, but......I respect your opinion. With that written, again, 90+ percent of the entire polling (in my opinion) is on the money. And.....that's praise.
On Point 1 - That's fair. A lot of people don't believe in Preseason Polls and that's fine. And in the grand scheme, as we'll state (both in writing and verbally), the Rankings mean little to nothing. It's just to stir up some interest, people talking, and I feel like ours took on exclusivity / extra value from the standpoint of nobody else (at least no other media outlet) in the state does them anymore. The Associated Press stopped doing a Top 10 ranking.
I have no problem with someone disagreeing with the rankings. But like I always say come NCAA Tournament time, and will here as well, for the team that's in that you don't want in, who would you replace them with?
On Point 2 - On Poquoson at #5, I don't think that is too egregious. They bring back some really fine players. The loss of Henesey at LB is significant, but they also have to develop some depth in the secondary. Good enough to win Class 2 though, no question. Class 2 was the hardest of them all for me to do because I literally started out with 21 teams that I considered... began to whittle it down and there are two, maybe even three teams, that didn't make the cut that I could see going 9-1 (and in one team's case, finishing 10-0). Some very tough snubs and calls. So if there's a year that someone goes to the title game and wins it that isn't even in the Top 10, Class 2 might be the one. Deepest of all 6 classes in my opinion. Doesn't mean the best. But deepest in terms of quality squads. Next closest for me was Class 4 where I had about 16 teams I seriously considered.
Wouldn't agree that Poquoson returns far more than East Rock. It's pretty comparable. Starting QB, 1800-yard rusher, All-State WR and 3 o-line regulars are back for ER just on offense. If you go with defense that Poquoson is better / brings back more, I could give you that one. But I do feel ER will be much improved defensively. Splitting hairs and you might turn out to be right that Poq turns out better / goes further. It's debatable.
I think everyone is going to be surprised, borderline shocked, at who we went with at #1. It could blow up in my face. Then again, we may revisit this come December and declare it a gutsy pick. I'm also going to make more than 1 school upset they are left out of the Top 10 completely, but hey, rankings aren't done to make friends.
On Point 3 - Glenvar was one of those teams I seriously thought about ranking higher. 6 does feel low for them. Gap between them and teams such as Appomattox and Graham is miniscule, even if there is a gap. Spoke with Coach Clifford at length one night on the phone. Maxx Philpott is an absolute beast up front on the d-line and Colby Street behind him at linebacker is probably a scholarship player. Of course, the loss of Jack Leonard and Riley Clifford - two players on offense that accounted for more than 3400 yards and 49TD's (plus 10INT's on defense in Clifford's case) - gave me reason to pause. It was harder for them to justiy them ahead of a 3-time reigning State Champ and Graham team that is pretty stacked with talent.
We all tend to over react to scrimmages at times. I even do it myself sometimes, and it's hard not to, I'll admit. I remember when Hampton won a state title one year in their glory years and they got handled in a scrimmage. I wouldn't get over concerned. Wouldn't be too worried if I'm Graham and they drop this much anticipated opener to a very sound Bluefield (WV) team. After all, Bluefield has fared better in the series. Now, if they get blown out and aren't competitive, to where that can linger into a 2nd loss against Giles on September 7th, then the panic becomes more understandable.
Goochland -- the coaching change, though Fruth is familiar with that program having been there before, was weighed. As were some other factors. But again in the East -- Lee, East Rock, Central-Woodstock, Poquoson and Goochland -- all those teams can make it to the title game in my estimation. Yet, the western part of the state will feel, and this is probably fair to think, that whoever comes out of their bracket should win.
The Class 1 was chalk at the top, not necessarily planned that way, but trust me there are a couple divisions where finding that 9th and 10th teams can be a chore. That's in preseason and during the season.
... In closing, all is fine and appreciate the remarks / input. We're all passionate about it I think, which is the good thing. Ready for the games to be played so we have more to dissect, topics to talk about.
